Sam parked on the turning point in front of the chalet, next to the biggest-ass truck I had ever seen.Barrett’s Construction Beauvillewaspainted on the door.
The contractor was a burly shifter with a giant red nose and an almost white Santa beard. His voice had the power to shake the ground under my feet, and he didn’t mince his words.
“That’s what you get for hiring fancy schmucks from the city, Mr. Riley. It looks like a landslide rolled through there. You’re lucky the water didn’t cause more damage to the bearing wall. We’ll fix the tile work, but not much can be done while we’re waiting on those swanky sinks of yours.”
Sam gave me an apologetic look. “They were out of stock, so they ordered from another warehouse. The shipping might get delayed.”
The Santa bear scratched his neck. “Yeah, we gotta wait for those, ’cause they’re going to be fitted in that countertop, right? Unless you want us to work on the bathrooms in the guest cottages, that is.”
I saw no reason to drag it out. “Sure, go ahead.”
“Then we’ll get right to it, Mr. Riley. Pleasure doing business with you, sir.”
His huge paw swallowed my hand. For a second there, I was afraid he’d crush it, but he squeezed gently. His beard bristled when he smiled.
“He seems nice,” I said when the shifter stomped off to check out the first cottage.
Sam hugged his tablet to his chest. He looked relieved. “Yes. And Oliver Klondike sang his praises.”
“I met Oliver at the pharmacy today. He wanted to book a meeting with me about conservation, so I gave him my number.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I shouldn’t have?”
“No. No. That’s fine.” He was still looking at me with confusion, though. Was I acting weird?
“How’s the hotel in Green Peaks?” I asked.
“It’s good. Thank you. Um.” Sam fidgeted with the flap on his tablet as he scanned my face. “Are you okay, Laurel?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Ulrich called.”
At the mention of my manager, my mood darkened, which Sam must have noticed in my face because his voice gained that soft, calming tone again.
“I told him to leave you be, but he’s getting calls from some people, Tiero among others, and he seems a little frustrated?—”
“I’m not coming back. I told him I needed at least a month.”
“And I repeated the same. He was trying to get me to talk to you, but I made it clear to him that I’m on your side in this. You need anddeservea vacation.” He sighed, offering me a sad smile. “But there’s a chance he might call you on your private number anyway.”
I pushed my anger down. Sam didn’t deserve it. “That’s okay. Thanks. I know you’re doing your best.”
He blinked. “Oh. Um. Thank you.”
The meadow was darkening around us. Monty might be back by now.
“Can you drop me off at the B&B?”
“Of course. We can go right away.”
I climbed into the passenger seat of Sam’s sedan, and he started the engine.
“You haven’t changed your mind about the security, have you?”
“Nah.”
